Minden Opera House was built in 1891 and featured plays and Monday night dances that drew traveling bands until entertainment events at the facility ceased in the late 1940's. The old building, which was being used by a hardware store, was gutted and transformed into a showplace of wood, brass, murals, and fiber optics
For over a century the opera house as constructed by W.T. Thorn has stood. There are many memories of this place stored within the minds of local residents and many stories which have been told and retold. Now with the construction of the newly designed Minden Opera House occurring at the turn of a new century, well over 100 years after its beginning, new life has been breathed into this historic structure. There are new happenings about to occur and new stories waiting to be created.
The Kearney County Community Foundation worked for several years on the planning and completion of the project which was supported totally by grants and donations and owns the 109 year old opera house. The Minden Opera House Board was elected from organizations in the community to operate the facility. Memorial Day weekend of 2000 marked the grand opening of the beautiful "new" Minden Opera House.